The Dillon tribune., 1887-02-18
CHAPTER XVI.
rlll. AMECSCADE.


ruE AMEusc ADE.
The DAY spen, with Aunt Dcoh. had
been Of the greatest benefit to Harry Glen.
Since his parting with Rachel Bond there
had been going ON in his spirit a termcn'
like that with which good vine discharges
itself Of its grossness and impurities. and
becomes clear and fine. In this process
had vanished the absorbing :elfishne,: ol a
much INDUCED only son, Aud the superc'''
;ous ego,ism which came - an almost nee
e,..ry result OF his college curriculum.
This spiritual, ripening received It's perfect
ing color and bloom from the serene exa''
,.s;on Of Aun, Debbys soul. 50 a''ed
was she with lofty devotion 70 the cause.
10 complete her faith in its holiness, and so
undues,io,ing her belief that II was every
ones simple duty to brave all danger for
Il, and die Il need be without murmu',
that contact with her would have inspired
with pure patriotic ardor a nature much
less ready for such leavening than Harry'.
As Dr.. Dcnslow had sur,nised. his faults
we're mainly superficial. and underneath
them was 6rm gristlc Of manhood which
would speedily harden into bone. With
The experience he had been having. days
would mature this a. rapidly As ordinary
years. He was himself hardly aware Of
the transformation, but only felt as his
physical exhaustion disappeared, new
eagerness to participate in the grea, work
ofthe war. lie was yratified to know a
little later that this was no transient feel
ing. In the course Of the evening Jim
Fostrer came in. with Kent Edwards and
Abe Bolton. After they had al. salts.
led their hunger Fortner Informed Harry
and Aunt Debby that the enemy had fallen
back to London, from which point he was
sending out wagons into the surrounding
country to gather up food, forage, arms
clothing, ammunition, etc. with the
double object Of depriving the Union men
ofthem and adding the same to the Con.
federase resources. A long train had also
been sent out to the Goose creek salt work,
twenty five miles northeast Of London
TO bring away lot OF salt stored there, o
which the Confederates had even more
need than Of food.
Fortner proposed to so out in the morn
ing and endeavor to capture some Of these
wagons. It seemed altogether probable
that few might be caught in such posi-
tion that their guards could bc killed OF
driven OF.
Al readily agreed to this plan, .Aun,
Debby leading of By volunteering to ride
ahead on her mare, as scout.
Harry suddenly remembered that he va,
weaponless. "what shall do for gun =
he asked, anxiously.
II declar, done forgot all bout ge.,in
yc gun" said Forsner with real concern
MY mind was disturbed BY other things,
he added with suspicion Of a grin At Ed
wsrds and Bolton; but they we,c leaninl
back in their chairs fas. asleep. Apple
jack. fatigue and hearty supper .oee,he,
made narcotic too potent to resist
Fortner rose, spread u few blankets o,
the floor, added sack of bran Tor pillow
and with some difficulty induced the ,w.
slecpers to lie do~n and take their sluu,
bers in more natural position.
"l'll find yc gun," said Aunt Debby, a
this operation Was finished. and Walking
to farther corner Of the room, she cam
back bearing in her hand rifle very simi
liar to the one For,ncr carried.
Thar" she said, setting the delicate!
carved brazen hee! down upon the hearth
and hold'g the muzzlc at arms length Viii,
she gazed a, the gun with the ad:nira,io
one cannot help feeling tor a magrihccr
weapon. "is ez true a gun cz ever a ma
put to his shoulder. Ef ! didn't belicv
yc ter be es true es steel ye shouldn't tee
hit. fur hit blonged ter the ,rues, man
this Twin world"
"Hit wux her husbands" cxplaine
fortncr. ~ her lips met firmly, as ii chol
ing down bitter memories.
I'm eivin' hit ter ye ter use ex he'd
used hit ct he war a.livin'," she <ai
steady Ing her tones with perceptible ,
fort. "rm glad that my hands can .
inter yours the means ter avenge him."
Harry :ried In vain to make IN apn,
priate sespoase.
"lI clean hit up for ye." she said
Harry. - she saw Fossner begin 10 fu,bi
up h'' own rifle fos the ness days duties
That che was no stranger to the wo
VAS shown BY the skin with which 8
addressed herself to il. Nothing .ha,
Kentucky mountaineer does has more
the aspect Of labor Of love, than his carl
for fine rite, and any OF them wo,